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With the dynamic duo of Roddy White and Julio Jones, it’s no wonder it seems like Harry Douglas may have slipped through the cracks of the depth chart for the Atlanta Falcons’ wide receivers.
In all honesty, that’s a shame.
Is he the best and the brightest? The answer is no, though it isn’t necessarily a resounding no. The general consensus is that Douglas hasn’t been the same since the ACL injury. Training camp will be the time for Douglas to step up and be noticed. The road ahead won’t be easy for him, either. He’s a solid bet to be the number three receiver going in, but only his willingness to work harder than everyone else will keep him at the forefront. That is, if the number three spot behind White and Jones can be considered the forefront.
Therein lies the blessing and the curse of being outside the limelight of the dynamic wide receivers duo, and therein lies the challenge that Douglas faces. It isn’t just the dynamic duo that he has to contend with. It’s the likes of Drew Davis, whose capabilities are basically unknown outside a few shining moments last season. It’s also the rookies coming in who are aiming high themselves…Martel Moore, Darius Johnson (yes, there is a rookie named Darius Johnson, not to be confused with the former cornerback), Rashad Evans. Outside the limelight is filled with outside factors waiting for him to slip up so they can move in.
Douglas can, however, use this trial to his advantage by being prepared to show he’s still got it. Come in and make them all sit up and take notice. Demonstrate what he’s capable of when given the chance. In what many consider to be a make-or-break season for the Falcons, he can’t afford to do anything less.
Leigh Allen is an NFL Atlanta Falcons writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter, on Facebook, and on Google+.
